'?am 
5 drnnotJs 

'Pi 


OCT  I 2 ’82 

A 5^7 


Christ  going  forth  to  pnrifn  tl)e  ttlorlb : 


SERMON 


PREACHED  BEFORE  THE 


FOREIGN  EVANGELICAL  SOCIETY, 

NEW  YORK,  MAY  7,  1848. 


BY  RAY  PALMER, 

Potior  of  the  First  Congregational  Church.  Albany 


ALBANY : 

JOEL  MUNSELL,  58  STATE  STREET. 
1851. 


'Torn 


The  following  Discourse  was  delivered  before 
the  Foreign  Evangelical  Society,  just  as  it  was 
about  to  pass  into  The  American  and  Foreign 
Christian  Union.  It  was  repeated  at  Newark, 
Brooklyn,  Boston  and  some  other  places.  The 
reasons  which  have  delayed  its  publication,  it  is 
not  necessary  to  state.  It  is  now  printed  at  the 
request  of  the  Directors  of  the  New  Organization, 
which  is  efficiently  pursuing  the  great  work  of 
evangelizing  the  Papal  World. 


SERMON 


Whose  fan  is  in  his  hand,  and  He  will  thoroughly  purge  his 
floor,  and  gather  his  wheat  into  the  garner:  but  He  will 
burn  up  the  chaff  with  unquenchable  fire. — Matth.  hi,  12. 

It  was  in  this  forcible  and  graphic  manner,  that  John 
the  Baptist  announced  the  presence  and  the  purpose  of 
Christ  the  great  Purifier.  The  passage  has  been  some- 
times understood,  as  merely  setting  forth  the  work  of 
judgment  which  he  was  about  to  do  in.  respect  to  the 
Jewish  nation.  Beyond  a doubt,  however,  it  has  a 
wider  sweep.  We  take  it  as  a proclamation  that  the 
Son  of  God,  like  the  fanner  intent  on  the  cleansing 
of  the  threshing  floor,  was  then  about  to  undertake  the 
task,  in  a formal  and  official  manner,  of  effecting  a com- 
plete moral  purification  of  the  world.  As  the  last  and 
most  enlightened  of  the  prophets,  John  knew  that  the 
promised  kingdom  of  Messiah  was  at  that  time  to  be  set 
up ; and  that  it  was  thenceforward  steadily  to  progress, 
till  the  blessed  consummation  should  be  reached,  in 
which  light  should  triumph  over  darkness,  and  good  over 
evil  among  men.  He  also  understood  that  although  the 
realization  of  the  splendid  visions  of  the  earlier  prophets 
was  not  to  be  brought  about  by  the  immediate  interposition 


6 


of  almighty  power,  yet  that  Christ,  as  the  Head  and 
administrator  of  the  new  economy,  should  be  the  prime 
mover  in  the  work. 

From  that  day  to  the  present,  the  prediction  has  been 
in  the  process  of  fulfilment.  The  regeneration  of  the 
world,  has,  we  believe,  been  all  the  while  advancing ; 
not  indeed,  without  many  impediments  and  a vigorous 
resistance.  The  great  adversary  of  God  and  man,  has 
done  his  best,  both  by  fraud  and  force,  to  keep  possession 
of  his  old  domain.  He  has  assailed  the  well-being  of 
mankind  at  every  vulnerable  point ; he  has  had  recourse 
to  all  modes  of  warfare  and  to  every  sort  of  weapons ; 
and  he  has,  even,  at  times,  seemed  to  have  so  greatly  the 
advantage  in  the  struggle,  that  his  servants  have  ventured 
to  begin  to  sound  a triumph ; but  in  one  way  or  another, 
it  has  happened  again  and  again,  that  when  he  has  been 
just  ready  to  rejoice  in  the  achievement  of  some  imagined 
victory,  he  has  been  effectually  baffled  and  overthrown. 
His  mines  have  sprung  beneath  his  own  battalions. 
His  forces  have  been  routed  by  the  recoil  of  his  own  ar- 
tillery. His  troops  have  been  set  man  against  man 
among  themselves,  and  thrown  into  inextricable  confu- 
sion. In  every  great  emergency,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
has  lifted  up  a standard  against  him. 

But  where  are  we  now  ? How  far  has  the  work  ad- 
vanced ? In  what  stage  of  the  purifying  process  have  we 
our  place  and  our  duty  ? This  is  a matter  which  it  is  of 
great  moment  that  we  should  fully  understand.  If  the 
day  is  drawing  nigh,  in  which  the  nations  shall  rise  to  the 
life  and  purity  and  happiness  to  which  divine  Truth  and 


7 


divine  Love  is  ultimately  to  bring  them,  we  ought  to  know 
it  for  our  encouragement.  If  it  be  true  that,  by  the  course 
of  events  in  ages  past,  the  way  of  the  Lord  has  been  pre- 
pared, and  now  at  last  the  rallying  for  the  final  struggle 
has  arrived,  who  would  not  rush  to  fill  some  post?  Who 
would  not  feel  his  heart  beating  high  with  holy  courage  ? 
We  fully  believe  that  the  last  stage  of  the  process  of 
cleansing  a world  long  sunk  in  the  deep  pollutions  of 
the  apostacy,  is  now  reached.  We  believe  that  it  can 
now  be  said  in  a far  more  direct  and  emphatic  sense 
than  in  the  time  of  John,  “ His  fan  is  in  his  hand,  and  he 
will  thoroughly  purge  his  floor.’1  This  cleansing  work 
of  Christ,  however,  will  not  be  in  respect  to  the  manner 
of  its  accomplishment,  like  the  quiet  task  of  the  fanner. 
On  the  contrary,  it  will  doubtless  involve  the  most  vio- 
lent convulsions  the  world  has  ever  seen.  Even  now 
we  see  all  things  in  commotion.  \\  e see,  as  it  were, 
the  going  forth  of  a mighty  conqueror ; and  we  can  not 
help  asking  with  the  prophet,  “Who  is  this  that  cometh 
from  Edom  ? with  dyed  garments  from  Bosrah  ? This 
that  is  glorious  in  his  apparel,  traveling  in  the  greatness 
of  his  strength  V'*  Then  we  seem  distinctly  to  hear  the 
thrilling  answer : “ I that  speak  in  righteousness  mighty 
to  save.  The  day  of  vengeance  is  in  my  heart,  and  the 
year  of  my  redeemed  is  come  !”  Were  it  possible,  we 
would  write,  in  words  of  fire,  before  the  eyes  of  all  who 
look  for  the  reign  of  God  on  earth,  that  with  the  resour- 
ces of  infinite  wisdom  and  almighty  power,  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  is  now  addressing  himself  directly 

TO  THE  WORK  OF  COMPLETING  THE  MORAL  CLEANSING 


OF  THE  WORLD. 


8 


We  must  understand  the  past,  or  we  can  not  under- 
stand the  present.  What  has  Christ  done  already,  is 
necessarily  preliminary  to  the  question,  What  is  he  doing 
now.  The  work  of  purifying  the  world,  on  which  the 
Forerunner  saw  him,  when  on  earth,  about  to  enter, 
necessarily  supposed  three  stages  or  periods  of  develop- 
ment ; stages  or  periods  clearly  distinguishable,  although 
not  marked  off  by  precise  and  definite  lines,  but  rather 
running  more  or  less  into  each  other.  W e say  that  this 
arrangement  was  a matter  of  necessity ; because  it  was 
not  by  the  immediate  power  of  God,  but  by  an  instru- 
mental, and  in  some  sense,  natural  growth,  that  the 
divine  kingdom  was  to  rise.  Such  was  the  divine  pur- 
pose from  the  beginning. 

I.  We  may  characterize  the  first  stage  of  the  purify- 
ing process  as  the  initiative  or  introductory  stage.  First 
of  all,  the  cleansing  fountain  was  to  be  opened  in  the 
blood  of  the  dying  Lamb  of  God.  The  Cross  was  to  be 
set  up  as  the  source  of  a mighty  moral  power.  The 
promise  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  was  to  be  fulfilled,  and  his 
mission  to  be  opened  in  a signal  manner.  The  Gospel 
also,  was  to  be  written,  and  to  be  preached  among  all 
the  accessible  nations ; and  by  the  gathering  of  churches 
and  the  establishment  of  Christian  ordinances  the  kingdom 
of  God  was  to  receive  a visible,  organic  form.  All  this 
was  shortly  done.  From  Calvary  the  word  of  life  went 
forth  ; and  the  leaven  of  saving  truth  was  soon  infused 
into  the  dark  and  corrupting  masses  of  mankind.  We 
need  not  say  with  what  results.  We  need  not  stay  to 
speak  of  the  simplicity  and  power  of  primitive  piety ; 


9 


nor  to  recount  the  victories  of  Christian  truth  in  its  first 
collision  with  the  systems  and  the  principles  of  error.  It 
is  enough  to  say,  in  passing,  that  in  this  introductory 
period  of  Christianity,  everything  was  accomplished 
which  the  nature  of  the  case  admitted.  The  first  onset 
was  a victory ; so  far  as  a victory  was  possible  in  the 
circumstances  of  the  times.  The  “noble  army  of  the 
martyrs”  furnished  an  admirable  demonstration  of  the 
power  of  the  Gospel  to  call  forth  the  highest  type  of 
human  character ; and  the  deserted  temples  of  idolatry 
bore  a reluctant,  but  emphatic  testimony,  to  the  vital 
energy  of  Christian  doctrine.  The  work  of  moral  trans- 
formation was  thus  efficiently  begun. 

II.  The  second  stage  of  the  work  of  the  Son  of  God 
in  the  purification  of  the  world,  we  may  fitly  call  the 
experimental  stage.  This  part  of  the  process,  as  we 
understand  the  matter,  has  been  steadily  going  forward 
from  the  days  of  Constantine,  and  even  earlier,  down  to 
the  present  time.  The  course  of  divine  Providence 
through  this  long  period,  as  respects  its  bearing  on  the 
spiritual  enlightenment  and  elevation  of  mankind  in  the 
final  triumph  of  the  Gospel,  has  perhaps  not  been  suffi- 
ciently considered.  It  is  too  commonly  the  impression 
in  glancing  towards  the  past,  that  while  these  tedious 
centuries  were  passing  over  a groaning  world,  the  work 
of  regenerating  humanity  w as  stationary,  or  even  retro- 
grade. We  can  not  believe  this  for  a moment.  We 
can  not  admit  the  thought  that  Jesus  Christ  has  ever 
ceased  to  prosecute  the  purifying  w?ork  to  the  commence- 

2 


10 


ment  of  which  He  put  his  hand  when  he  dwelt  below. 
We  are  by  no  means  of  the  number  who  adopt  the 
notion  that  the  dark  ages  were  really  not  dark  at  all ; 
but  rather  were  the  golden  ages  of  human  history.  But 
dark  as  they  were,  corrupt  and  wretched  as  in  many 
respects  they  were,  profound  as  was  the  intellectual 
slumber  in  which  they  wrapped  the  masses,  we  yet  claim 
confidentially  the  entire  period,  from  the  days  of  the 
decline  of  primitive  piety,  to  the  days  of  modern  revival, 
as  a period  of  steady  progress  to  God's  kingdom  among 
men.  Our  meaning  is,  that  there  were  certain  experi- 
ments which  it  was  a matter  of  necessity,  in  the  absence 
of  miraculous  interpositions,  that  humanity  should  be 
left  to  try,  before  it  could  fully  and  universally  come 
under  the  dominion  of  the  simple  truth  of  God ; and  that 
the  divine  Purifier,  in  his  wise  administration,  has  appro- 
priated this  period  chiefly  to  the  working  out  of  these 
experiments.  This  view  strikes  us  as  having  most  im- 
portant bearings  on  the  present  and  the  future  ; we  will 
therefore  give  it  some  little  illustration. 

In  the  first  place,  it  was  inevitable  that  Philosophy 
should  thoroughly  try  her  speculative  acuteness,  in  the 
attempt  to  harmonize  the  truths  of  revealed  religion 
with  her  own  established  formulas.  This  would  naturally 
follow  from  the  fact  that  Christianity  assumed  to  speak 
dogmatically  and  with  authority,  on  many  of  the  chief 
questions  on  which  speculative  reason  had  been  wont  to 
try  its  acuteness  and  its  insight.  It  was  not  to  be  ima- 
gined that  Philosophy,  not  now  in  her  infancy  but  deve- 
loped into  a vigorous  maturity,  would  humbly  acquiesce 


li 


in  this  assumption  and  quietly  abandon  the  field  of 
abstruse  inquiry.  She  had  imbibed  her  spirit,  settled  her 
canons  and  elaborated  her  systems,  under  the  influence 
or  at  least  within  the  atmosphere,  of  sensual  Paganism; 
and  priding  herself  on  the  renown  of  her  Sages  and  her 
Schools,  she  was  so  puffed  up  with  the  conceit  of  wisdom, 
that  if  she  gave  heed  to  Christianity  at  all,  it  could  only 
be  in  a patronizing  way ; as  if  she  would  kindly  lend  her 
light  to  render  it  intelligible  to  the  world.  The  Plato- 
nizing  Fathers  of  the  Church,  led  off  in  the  attempt  to  test 
the  facts  revealed  to  faith  in  the  philosophic  crucible. 
Then  followed  the  long  array  of  the  Schoolmen,  with 
their  dialectics  and  subtile  and  interminable  refinements; 
and  by  them  the  process  was  carried  on.  Modern  meta- 
physicians have  apparently  well  nigh  completed  the 
curriculum  of  the  possible,  in  the  variously  modified  sys- 
tems of  Pantheistic  Transcendentalism. 

It  was  necessary,  again,  that  the  Hierarchical  experi- 
ment should  be  made ; that  it  should  be  shown  by  actual 
trial,  what  would  be  the  fruits  of  priestly  domination  ; of 
the  subjection  of  the  human  mind  to  the  necessity  of  a 
blind  and  unquestioning  submission  to  authority  in  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  the  conscience.  Those  who  were  the 
constituted  teachers  in  the  church,  whose  official  position 
at  once  required  them  to  surpass  others  in  their  know- 
ledge of  divine  truth  and  entitled  them  to  speak  with 
some  measure  of  authority,  could  not  but  have  it  in  their 
power,  especially  in  their  ministrations  to  the  ignorant, 
to  exert  an  influence  which  should  be  well  nigh  decisive. 
It  would  often  seem  to  be  really  best  that  there  should 


be  an  unhesitating  submission  to  their  superior  wisdom, 
on  the  part  of  those  who  were  wanting  in  the  capacity  or 
the  means  of  examining  for  themselves.  How  easily 
then,  as  human  nature  is,  would  even  the  most  upright 
and  pious  religious  instructors,  without  the  light  of  expe- 
rience on  the  subject,  convince  themselves  that  they 
might  rightfully  assume  to  control  the  faith  and  the  con- 
sciences of  others  ! How  difficult  would  be  the  task  to 
those  who  were  in  the  place  of  learners,  of  determining 
beforehand  what  would  be  the  consequences  of  implicit 
subjection  to  authority,  the  giving  up  of  the  right  of  pri- 
vate judgment ! Of  this  problem,  the  self  styled  succes- 
sors of  Saint  Peter  have  wrought  out  an  ample  solution 
in  the  sight  of  all  men.  The  voluminous  records  of 
Papal  abominations,  written  in  the  tears  and  blood  of 
millions,  and  made  up  at  some  periods  of  but  little  else 
than  exhibitions  of  debasing  ignorance  and  cruel  super- 
stition, detail  the  results  in  all  their  dark  particulars. 

It  was  also  necessary  that  the  light  of  experience 
should  be  thrown  upon  the  question  of  Religious  Seclusion, 
as  a means  of  a highly  spiritual  life.  The  Gospel  came 
demanding  entire  devotion  to  God.  It  insisted  on  self- 
discipline,  the  mortification  of  the  appetites  and  passions, 
deadness  to  the  world,  and  a holy  delight  in  God  and  in 
spiritual  things.  It  urged  the  duties  of  watchfulness, 
prayer  and  meditation  on  divine  truth;  and  promised 
great  rewards  to  those  who  should  gain  the  victory  over 
the  world  by  faith.  It  was  the  most  natural  thing  ima- 
ginable that  minds  of  a contemplative  and  quiet  habit, 
being  constitutionally  disposed  to  seek  retirement  from 


13 


the  noisy  world,  should  fancy  such  a state  to  he  emi- 
nently favorable  to  a devout  and  holy  life.  Asceticism 
had  existed  too,  before  the  promulgation  of  Christianity  ; 
and  so  had  a traditional  sanction  to  recommend  it.  The 
early  Anchorites,  who  obtained  such  renown  for  sanctity 
in  the  deserts  of  Egypt,  and  the  mountain  fastnesses  of 
Palestine,  while  as  yet  Christianity  was  comparatively 
pure,  and  the  numerous  monastic  orders  of  later  and 
corrupter  ages,  have  made  full  trial  in  this  matter,  and 
the  result  is  clear.  It  has  been  shown  that  holy  principle 
and  affection  can  be  effectually  and  happily  developed 
only  in  connection  with  a life  of  benevolent  activity,  and 
in  direct  contact  with  the  world. 

It  was  necessary  further,  that  the  consequences  of  an 
alliance  between  the  Formal  and  Artistic  on  the  one  hand, 
and  the  purely  Spiritual  on  the  other,  should  be  demon- 
strated by  experiment.  There  is  a natural  affinity  be- 
tween the  beautiful  and  the  good.  The  disposition  of 
the  mind  to  connect  them  in  its  associations,  would  lead 
of  course  to  a desire  and  effort  to  combine  taste  and  piety, 
so  far  as  might  be  practicable.  But  how  far  this  might 
be  effected ; to  what  extent  the  one  might  usefully  be 
made  the  ally  of  the  other ; and  at  what  point  the  danger 
would  arise  that  the  beauty  of  form  and  sense  would  fix 
attention  on  itself  to  the  prejudice  of  the  higher  attractions 
of  the  spiritual  and  divine ; all  this  it  w'as  difficult  before- 
hand to  determine.  Between  the  art  and  the  religion  of 
Pagan  Antiquity,  there  had  been  a complete  alliance ; so 
that  the  one  was,  as  it  were,  the  embodiment  of  the  other, 
and  it  was  not  unnatural  to  think  that  a similar  alliance 


14 


might  exist  when  Christianity  prevailed.  Papal  Rome 
inherited  the  treasures  of  aft  which  had  survived  the 
ruins  of  the  Empire ; and  thus  became  the  centre  and 
school  of  taste  to  the  civilized  world.  When,  therefore, 
she  grew  into  prosperity,  and  surrounded  herself  with 
the  means  of  luxury  and  splendor,  she  reared  her  vast 
Cathedrals,  and  set  up  her  jeweled  altars,  and  employed 
the  pencil  and  the  chisel  to  add  to  the  enchantment  of 
her  worship ; and  combining  with  the  whole  the  magic 
power  of  music  and  the  dazzling  show  of  imposing  pomps 
and  ceremonies,  she  has  supplied  a demonstration  as 
complete  as  it  is  instructive. 

It  was  necessary  likewise,  that  there  should  be  a fair 
experiment  of  the  practical  working  of  a union  between 
the  Spiritual  and  the  Temporal,  the  connection  of  Church 
and  State.  The  Romish  Church,  in  the  ages  of  her  entire 
ascendancy,  rendered  this  union  so  universal  and  complete 
among  the  states  of  Christendom,  and  perpetuated  it  so 
long,  that  even  Protestantism  has  found  it  difficult  to 
escape  from  the  entanglement.  There  has  been  ample 
time  for  the  unfolding  of  the  tendencies  of  this  unnatural 
and  adulterous  conjunction.  The  monstrous  evils  which 
have  been  its  offspring,  are  fast  engaging  the  attention 
and  arousing  the  indignation  of  the  world ; and  loud 
and  determined  voices  are  now  lifted  up  demanding  a 
divorce ; voices  which  will  never  be  hushed  again  till  a 
divorce  is  finally  accomplished. 

It  was  necessary  yet  again,  that  Infidelity  should  have 
time  to  try  every  method  of  attack  on  the  citadel  of 
Christian  truth,  to  the  end  that  the  impregnable  strength 


15 


of  its  entrenchments  might  be  seen.  English  Deism  led 
on  in  this  assault.  Herbert  and  Tindal,  Shaftsbury  and 
Bolingbroke,  Hume  and  Gibbon,  were  certainly  no  mean 
antagonists.  They  did  all  that  eloquent,  elaborate,  inge- 
nious sophistry  could  do,  but  with  no  detriment  to  the 
stability  of  Revelation.  The  virtual  Atheism  of  Voltaire, 
Rousseau  and  their  associates  in  France,  poured  out  from 
another  quarter,  the  poisoned  arrows  of  malignant  ridi- 
cule and  cutting  satire,  aided  immensely  by  the  intolerable 
abuses  of  the  Romish  Church.*  Germany  furnished  the 
third  and  latest  type.  Rationalism,  with  its  coolness,  its 
learning,  and  its  iron  diligence,  has  raked  and  sifted,  and 
turned  and  overturned,  till  at  last  it  has  well  nigh  buried 
itself  in  its  own  accumulated  rubbish,  and  is  beginning 
to  awake  from  its  presumptuous  dream.  Strauss  has 
nauseated  it  with  its  own  elixir. 

And  then,  lastly,  it  was  not  less  necessary  that  certain 
experiments  should  be  made,  illustrative  of  the  true  spirit 
and  the  practical  efficacy  of  Christianity  itself.  It  was 
important  that  an  illustration  should  be  given  of  the  un- 
conquerable energy  of  Christian  faith,  in  its  calm  gmd  firm 
endurance  of  the  fiercest  persecutions,  and  its  patient 
holding  out  through  long  and  dark  and  agonizing  days 
of  trial.  It  was  needful  that  proof  should  be  supplied 
that  Christianity  possesses  an  indestructible  vitality,  a life 
which  can  survive  all  social  revolutions  and  even  the 


* See  Voltaire’s  General  History — Passim.  One  can  not  contemplate 
the  picture  of  Christianity  as  it  lay  before  his  mind,  in  the  unsightliness 
of  its  corruptions,  without  admitting  that  it  does  afford  some  show  of 
apology  for  his  rancorous  hostility  to  the  Gospel  and  its  Author. 


1G 


worst  abuses  in  its  own  organization  and  discipline.  It 
was  to  be  shown,  that  it  has  an  elastic  force  sufficient  to 
enable  it  to  heave  from  itself  the  crushing  masses  of  old 
corruptions,  and  to  evolve  again  spiritual  life  and  light, 
from  darkness  and  apparent  death.  It  was  to  be  made  to 
appear  quite  certain,  that  Revelation  has  nothing  to  fear 
from  the  advancement  of  sound  learning,  and  the  disco- 
veries of  sober  science ; but  on  the  contrary  that  these, 
in  their  progress,  are  to  be  her  friendly  and  genial  coad- 
jutors. There  was  an  absolute  necessity  in  the  nature  of 
the  case,  that  these  things  should  have  the  certainty  of 
experimental  demonstration. 

Now  all  these,  and  other  similar  experiments,  are 
obviously  an  essential  part  of  the  purifying  work  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ ; and  what  we  have  called  the  experi- 
mental stage  or  period  of  this  work,  has,  we  believe, 
wrought  them  out  in  a thorough  manner.  And  this 
especially  we  insist  on,  that  these  experiments  are  doubt- 
less final.  They  are  not  to  be  repeated.  Philosophy, 
in  its  attempts  to  solve  the  higher  problems  of  our  being, 
has  had.its  day.  The  Hierarchy  in  its  assumed  dominion 
over  conscience,  has  had  its  day.  The  Cloister  has  had 
its  day.  The  sensualism  of  Form  and  Art  has  had  its 
day.  The  alliance  of  Church  and  State  has  had  its  day. 
Infidelity  has  had  its  day.  Each  has  wrought  out  its 
appropriate  results,  and  the  great  Purifier  has  now  nearly 
or  quite  done  with  them  all  forever.  While  on  the  other 
hand,  those  experiments  which  have  served  to  exhibit 
the  true  genius  of  Christianity,  and  to  place  its  efficiency 
beyond  all  question,  are  to  live  in  the  memory  of  the 


17 


Church,  to  sustain  her  constancy  and  courage,  and  to 
warm  her  faith  and  hope  into  a holy  and  unquenchable 
enthusiasm.  Here  then  is  a great  and  essential  work  ac- 
complished. Not  in  vain  have  these  fifteen  centuries,  in 
which  there  has  been  so  much  to  the  eye  ot  sense  that 
looked  disheartening,  passed  over  depressed  and  sorrow- 
ing humanity.  Christ  has  not  rested  from  his  undertaking 
all  the  while.  Not  a day  has  been  without  its  bearing 
on  the  grand  result. 

III.  We  come  now  to  speak  of  the  third,  and  as  we 
conceive  the  last  stage  in  the  purifying  work  of  Christ. 
This  we  may  characterize  as  distinctively  the  transform- 
ing stage-,  as  the  period,  in  other  words,  in  which  the 
advances  of  humanity  towards  a purer  and  a happier  state, 
are  to  be  rapid,  manifest  and  permanent.  \\  bile  the 
experimental  period  has  been  for  some  time  drawing  to 
a close,  the  opening  of  this  final  one  has  been  apparent. 
Now  it  is  felt  by  all  men,  at  least  by  all  who  are 
attentive  to  the  movements  of  the  times,  that  a new  era 
in  human  affairs  has  been  commenced.  By  visible  signs 
the  Son  of  Man  is  coming.  The  brightness  of  his  ap- 
proach is  already  seen  streaking  the  retreating  darkness 
of  the  past,  with  the  blushes  of  the  promised  morning. 
Already  is  it  plain,  that  the  breath  of  his  mouth  is  kindling 
up  the  unquenchable  fires  that  shall  consume  the  accumu- 
lated chaff  of  ages.  The  tide  of  purifying  influence,  has 
hitherto  been  not  unlike  a river  flowing  under  ground ; 
but  now  at  last  we  see  it  bursting  forth,  ready  to  flow 
all  abroad  with  a life-giving  and  resistless  power.  If  we 

3 


18 


read  aright  the  tokens.  Progress  is  henceforth  everywhere 
to  be  the  order  of  the  day.  Every  new  victory  of 
truth,  is  to  be  substantially  a final  victory.  Each  really 
forward  step  of  struggling  humanity,  is  to  be  a step  from 
which  there  shall  be  no  receding.  We  shall  be  told, 
perhaps,  that  we  are  over  sanguine.  It  may  seem,  even 
to  some  Christians,  that  to  entertain  such  views  is  to  be 
borne  away  by  a benevolent  enthusiasm.  But  as  the 
ground  of  the  strong  convictions  now  expressed,  there 
are  certain  unquestionable  facts,  to  which  wre  will  refer. 

Before  alluding  to  these,  however,  it  is  proper  to  remark, 
that  in  what  it  is  proposed  to  say  in  illustration  of  this 
part  of  the  subject,  we  shall  have  reference  chiefly  to  the 
nations  of  Christendom,  and  more  particularly  to  those 
of  Europe.  The  nations  of  Western  Europe,  as  the  seats 
of  the  highest  Civilizations  both  of  ancient  and  modern 
times,  as  the  first  political  powers  which  now  exist, 
and  as  the  chief  fountains,  for  the  present,  of  literature 
and  thought,  must  be  expected  to  lead  off  in  the  grand 
march  of  humanity  towards  a final  disenthrallment.  The 
signs  of  that  event  must  of  course  be  expected  to  l>e  there 
first  unequivocally  manifest.  The  complete  moral  regene- 
ration of  Christendom,  must  inevitably  bring  with  it,  or 
speedily  draw  after  it,  the  renovation  of  the  world. 

But  to  proceed  now  to  the  facts,  To  us,  as  believers  in 
the  divine  authority  of  the  Bible  aNd  as  Protestants,  it  is 
an  undoubted  fact,  that  Evangelical  Truth,  the  simple, 
pure  and  vital  truth  which  lies  on  the  face  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  will,  with  the  divine  blessing,  infallibly  purify 
and  save  the  world,  if  brought  iptp  actual  contact  with 


I!) 


the  minds  of  men.  We  well  know  that  individual  man 
needs  nothing  but  this,  received  into  his  understanding 
and  his  heart,  to  elevate  and  bless  him.  He  is  a con- 
scious sinner.  The  Bible  tells  him  that  through  the  bleed- 
ing Lamb  of  God,  he  may  have  free  pardon.  He  is  a 
child  of  sorrow.  The  Bible  tells  him,  that  in  Christ 
Jesus,  God  will  be  his  Father  and  Comforter.  Sin  has 
debased  his  whole  nature ; and  rendered  his  aims  selfish 
and  his  wishes  groveling.  The  Bible  breathes  around  him 
the  divine  spirit  of  benevolence ; and  at  the  same  time  it 
leads  him  into  the  noblest  the  most  inspiring  fields  of 
thought,  and  presents  to  his  contemplation  the  purest 
and  grandest  objects  in  the  universe.  We  understand 
equally  well,  that  Society  needs  nothing  but  the  Bible  to 
perfect  both  its  spirit  and  its  organization.  “ Thou  shalt 
love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself.”  There  is  the  fundamental 
doctrine  of  equality.  “ Whatsoever  ye  would  that  men 
should  do  unto  you,  do  ye  even  so  unto  them.”  There 
is  a Bill  of  Rights  in  comparison  with  which  that  of 
King  John  is  but  a trifle ; it  is  the  Magna  Cliarta  granted 
by  God  himself  for  the  benefit  of  all  men.  We  know,  in 
short,  that  wherever  the  Bible  goes,  men  are  taught  their 
true  relations  and  their  duties ; what  their  capabilities  are 
and  what  are  the  proper  ends  of  their  existence.  Let 
them  learn  these  things  aright,  and  they  will  rise  in 
■conscious  power,  to  think  and  to  act  with  manly  freedom ; 
and  they  will  assail  the  abuses  and  oppressions  which 
have  borne  them  down,  till  the  last  vestige  of  them  shall 
be  swept  away. 

It  is  a second  noticeable  fact,  that  every  requisite 


20 


agency  is  now  in  readiness,  for  the  speedy  and  universal 
dissemination  of  Evangelical  T ruth.  It  is  a circumstance 
worthy  to  be  considered,  that  the  great  organizations 
for  the  spread  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  other  religious 
books,  should  have  been  brought  into  existence  just  as 
the  time  was  coming  when  the  work  of  printing  them 
could  be  executed  with  the  utmost  rapidity  and  economy, 
and  when  the  way  was  about  to  be  opened  for  the  easy 
introduction  of  them  everywhere.  Imagine  the  forma- 
tion of  a Bible  or  a Tract  Society  in  the  days  of  Abe- 
lard or  of  Roger  Bacon.  How  many  copies  can  you 
conceive  it  to  have  issued  annually  ? By  what  means 
could  it  have  escaped  the  strangling  grasp  of  Rome  ? 
Or,  not  to  mention  these  things,  where  among  the  masses 
could  intelligent  readers  have  been  found  ? With 
what  sort  of  facilities  could  the  business  of  distribution 
have  been  prosecuted  ? But  now  the  Bible  Societies, 
quietly  planted  where  no  hostile  power  can  arrest  or  even 
disturb  their  work,  are  issuing  every  day,  eight  or  ten 
thousand  copies  of  the  Scriptures,  pouring  out  as  it  were 
a mighty  tide  of  light  upon  the  world ; while  kindred 
associations  are  also  daily  striking  off  some  millions  of 
pages  of  evangelical  matter  to  which  may  be  added  all 
that  is  published  by  private  enterprizc.  Thrown  into 
the  great  channels  of  intercommunication,  these  volumes 
in  any  numbers,  can  be  placed  at  any  point  in  a very 
few  hours  or  days.  Meanwhile  all  Christendom  abounds 
with  readers ; and  Rome,  although  she  dreads  and  hates 
the  light  as  cordially  as  ever,  no  longer  has  the  power  to 
hinder  its  diffusion.  Even  Spain  herself,  has  been  for 


some  time  open  to  a considerable  extent  to  those  who 
distribute  the  Word  of  God;  and  in  that  strong  hold  of 
Papal  intolerance  and  bigotry,  an  earnest  voice  has  of  late 
been  lifted  np  in  favor  of  perfect  religions  toleration.  It  is 
but  a few  years  since,  that  a diplomatic  agent  of  Great 
Britain  had  his  Bible  taken  from  him  on  entering  the 
Papal  territory;  and  in  spite  of  all  remonstrance  was 
obliged  to  submit  to  the  indignity.  But  during  the  late 
commotions,  on  the  banks  of  the  Tiber  and  between  the 
Vatican  and  the  Quirinal,  the  Holy  Scriptures  in  the  Ital- 
ian language  have  been  issued  from  the  press,  and  widely 
distributed  among  the  people.  By  such  agencies,  not- 
withstanding all  opposing  influences,  the  truths  of  re- 
vealed religion  are  finding  their  way  to  the  common 
mind  in  every  part  of  Europe.  The  batteries  wherewith 
to  demolish  the  entrenchments  of  the  Prince  of  darkness, 
are  well  planted,  and  want  only  a vigorous  working  to 
lay  open  his  secret  chambers  to  the  sun. 

A third  fact  is  of  equal  interest  and  significance.  It  is 
this  : that  over  a large  part  of  Europe,  humanity  exhibits 
not  a little  of  that  peculiar  restlessness  and  longing  which 
disposes  to  the  reception  of  the  Gospel,  and  which  the 
Gospel  alone  can  meet.  This  is  a circumstance  of  which 
observation  only  can  give  the  full  impression.  Pass 
through  the  cities  and  villages  of  France  and  Belgium, 
through  Italy,  Switzerland  and  Germany,  and  get  a 
free  expression  of  the  profounder  current  of  feeling  which 
prevails  among  the  middle  and  lower  classes  of  society. 
It  may  be  difficult  to  unlock  the  heart.  But  when  it  can 
be  done,  it  will  very  generally  be  found  that  there  is  a 


22 


deep  inward  dissatisfaction,  a consciousness  of  want,  a 
vehement  yearning,  often  perhaps  vague  and  scarcely 
intelligible  to  itself.  Men  feel  as  respects  themselves  that 
they  are  not  what  they  should  be.  They  feel  that  society 
is  not  what  it  should  be ; that  religious  institutions  are 
not  what  they  should  be  ; and  that  something  higher  and 
better  than  anything  they  know,  must  be  possible,  as  the 
condition  and  the  end  of  human  life.  They  are  tired  of 
empirical  experiments  and  political  contrivances  for  the 
mending  of  the  world  ; and  sometimes,  at  which  we  can 
not  wonder  after  their  many  disappointments,  are  ready  to 
despair  of  relief  entirely.  There  are  probably  hundreds 
of  thousands  to  be  found  in  continental  Europe,  of  whose 
present  state  of  feeling  this  is  a sufficiently  accurate  des- 
cription.* And  what  is  this  state  of  mind  '■  When 
under  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  we  find  an  individual 
who  is  weary  of  himself,  sick  of  the  pleasures  of  the 
world,  and  pressed  with  a sense  of  his  need  of  something 
better,  what  do  we  deem  it,  but  a preparation  of  the  heart 
by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  receive  the  satisfying  gift  of  God  ? 

* The  statements  of  Count  Guicciardini  as  given  in  the  letter  of  M.  De 
Pressense  to  the  New  York  Independent  of  July  17th,  1851,  furnish  a 
striking  illustration  of  what  is  here  said.  “ Seeds  of  Gospel  truth  were 
deposited  in  some  minds  by  foreign  Christians  visiting  Florence.  Bnt  all 
on  a sudden,  under  the  direct  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  profoundest 
religious  wants  were  developed  and  religious  interest  excited.  The  hand 
of  the  Lord  alone  hath  done  it,  and  it  hath  acted  in  its  sovereignty.  Those 
who  had  a long  time  in  vain  endeavored  to  bring  a single  soul  to  the  Lord, 
have  suddenly  seen  numbers  of  Italians  resorting  to  them  hungering  and 
thirsting  for  righteousness,  inquiring  for  the  Scriptures  and  reading  them 
with  delight.  M.  Guicciardini  counts  at  Florence  already  more  than  two 
thousand  persons  who  in  various  degrees  are  under  the  influence  of  the 
Gospel,  some  still  seeking  if,  others  having  already  found  it.  The  move- 
n ent  spreads  equally  in  the  country.” — JJc  Prestentc's  Letter. 


And  why  is  it  not  to  he  deemed  the  same  wherever  found  ? 
Certain  it  is,  that  many  who  have  been  met  in  this  frame 
of  mind  by  Evangelists  and  Colporteurs,  have  gladly  and 
savingly  received  the  Word  of  God.  The  truth  must 
win  its  way,  even  among  blind  and  deluded  Romanists, 
when  they  perceive  that  it  brings  them  just  the  rest  for 
which  their  hearts  have  long  been  aching.  The  famish- 
ing will  eat  if  you  give  them  bread.  They  will  drink 
when  you  make  the  living  waters  to  gush  forth  at  their 
feet.  Even  ignorance  and  superstition,  are  rarely  able 
utterly  to  destroy  the  moral  instincts  of  the  sOul. 

Our  fourth  fact  is,  that  in  the  administration  of  his 
Providence,  God  is  now  manifestly  working  with  and  for 
his  Truth,  in  a most  extraordinary  manner.  This  is 
what  the  Prophets  plainly  intimate  should  come  to  pass. 
It  is  what  ought  to  have  been  expected,  and  is  a rebuke 
to  the  unbelief  of  the  Christian  Church.  It  would  seem 
but  natural  to  anticipate  that  in  going  about  to  complete 
his  work  as  the  Purifier  of  the  world,  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  should  bring  the  course  of  his  Providence  into 
harmonious  and  powerful  cooperation  with  the  influences 
of  his  Word ; and  that  he  should  so  direct  the  great 
movements  of  society,  as  to  cause  it  to  be  seen  and  felt, 
that  Nations  and  Kings  and  Dynasties  were  all  at  his 
disposal.  This  he  has  done  and  is  doing  still.  The  es- 
tablishment of  our  own  free  institutions  and  the  French 
Revolution  which  soon  followed,  at  the  close  of  the  last 
century,  constituted  the  opening  of  the  great  struggle 
which  now  is  waxing  hot,  for  the  Cardinal  Rights  of 
Man.  Next  came  the  Man  of  Destiny,  as  he  loved  to 


24 


style  himself : and  he  was  the  Man  of  Destiny  in  a far 
higher  sense  than  it  ever  entered  into  his  own  head  to 
dream.  We  confidently  affirm,  that  Napoleon  was  one 
of  the  most  efficient  Missionaries  that  God  has  ever  em- 
ployed in  the  work  of  the  world’s  recovery.  He  knew 
not  God  indeed,  and  served  him  blindly  and  without 
design.  But  who  first  taught  the  people  of  Europe  to 
think  lightly  of  the  sacredness  of  kings,  and  stripped 
away  from  royalty  at  once  its  divine  right  and  its  vene- 
rable associations?  Napoleon,  when  he  handled  legiti- 
mate sovereigns  as  mere  puppets,  and  raised  to  thrones 
men  taken  from  the  common  people.  Who  effectually 
broke  up  the  habits  of  thought  which  had  come  down 
from  feudal  ages,and  to  which  the  distinctions  of  hereditary 
nobility  owed  their  chief  power  to  command  respect  ? 
Napoleon,  when  in  place  of  men  whose  only  merit  was 
an  ancient  and  honorable  title,  he  gathered  around  him, 
and  raised  to  the  highest  posts  of  honor,  those  who  had 
distinguished  themselves  by  their  individual  talent.  Who 
by  the  Public  Works  which  he  executed  or  projected, 
waked  up  the  idea  of  Progress  in  the  general  mind,  and 
shamed  the  indolence  and  selfishness  of  the  old  regimes  ? 
Napoleon;  and  no  wonder  that  as  the  people  look  on 
these,  they  still  are  impressed  by  the  vastness  of  his  views, 
and  still  feel  the  stirring  impulses  of  his  mighty  mind. 
We  are  no  admirers  of  the  personal  character  of  Napo- 
leon; but  it  is  impossible  to  observe  the  results  of  his 
career,  and  not  greatly  admire  the  wisdom  of  God  as 
displayed  in  the  ends  which  it  used  him  to  accomplish. 
Other  important  advances  were  made,  some  of  them 


25 


peaceably  as  in  England,  after  the  downfall  of  the  Empe- 
ror, and,  before  the  opening  of  the  year  eighteen  hundred 
forty  eight.  That  most  eventful  year  developed  as  much 
of  incident  and  change  as  has  ordinarily  filled  a Century. 
Where  now  is  that  proud  King,  who  in  violation  of  his 
coronation  oath,  perverted  the  Charter  to  the  oppression 
of  good  men,  and  on  the  coast  of  Africa  and  in  the  Islands 
of  the  Sea  opposed  the  cause  of  Christ  and  vexed  his 
servants?  Where  now  are  the  glories  of  the  Tuileries 
and  of  St.  Cloud  ? The  waves  of  popular  tumult  have 
engulphed  the  monarchy  itself.  The  word  of  Christ  is 
no  longer  bound  in  France.*  How  has  it  fared  with  Pius 
IX,  the  liberal  Pope.  He  has  found  that  the  Papal  in- 
fluence of  ages,  has  done  a work  of  degradation  which 
it  is  now  no  easy  matter  to  repair.  With  a courage  to 
be  commended,  he  attempted  to  drive  the  Chariot  of  Re- 
form ; but  his  arm  proved  too  feeble  to  reign  in  the  met- 
tled steeds,  and  so  he  leaped  in  terror  from  his  seat,  and 
they  went  dashing  on,  leaving  the  Holy  Father  prostrate 
by  the  wayside.  The  Inquisition  has  been  emptied  of 
its  hapless  prisoners,  and  its  accursed  implements  of  tor- 
ture exposed  to  the  public  gaze;  and  by  a variety  of 
means  the  subjects  of  the  Papacy  in  the  Eternal  City 
itself,  have  been  filled  with  abhorrence  of  priestly  domi- 
nation. Austria  and  Prussia  and  the  smaller  German 
states,  have  been  shaken  as  with  the  rocking  of  an  earth- 

* One  of  the  most  hopeful  indications  for  France,  is  an  increasing 
demand  for  the  Holy  Scriptures  among  the  people.  It  is  stated  on  good 
authority,  that  the  booksellers  of  Paris  are  now  selling  at  the  rate  of 
from  seven  to  eight  thousand  copies  a year,  in  addition  to  what  are  dis- 
tributed by  Bible  Societies. 


4 


26 


quake ; and  there  is  hardly  a corner  of  the  Continent, 
except  where  the  iron  hand  of  the  Autocrat  is  felt, 
that  has  not  been  roused  to  the  hope  of  better  days. 
Never  before  has  God  so  arisen  to  shake  terribly  the 
earth. 

No  one  can  well  predict  precisely  what  is  to  be  the 
future  course  of  political  events  among  the  Powers  of 
Europe.  But  we  may  be  sure  of  this,  that  the  cause  of 
truth  has  already  gained  immensely  by  the  recent  move- 
ments ; and  equally  sure  that  to  recede  will  be  found  im- 
possible. A true  principle,  once  developed  in  the  mind, 
can  never  be  wrested  from  it.  The  power  of  excited 
thought  is  irresistible.  Like  the  pent  up  fires  of  the  vol- 
cano it  will  make  to  itself  a way,  or  it  will  shatter  the 
whole  structure  of  society,  and  spread  on  every  side  the 
fragments  of  its  firmest  institutions.  Sovereigns  may 
learn  little  amid  the  storms  of  revolution ; but  the  people 
at  least  have  learned  some  lessons  not  likely  to  be  soon 
forgotten.  The  nations  do  not  groan  and  travail  in  pain 
together  and  all  for  nothing.  Whatever  may  be  the 
immediate  issues  of  the  late  convulsive  throes,  it  will  at 
length  appear,  we  are  persuaded,  that  the  cleansing  fan 
of  the  Purifier  has  been  effectively  at  work. 

We  add,  as  the  last  fact  to  be  noticed,  that  there  is  an 
evident  reviving  of  the  life  and  power  of  Spiritual  Piety  in 
the  Evangelical  Churches  of  Christendom.  That  such 
is,  really,  the  fact,  will  doubtless  be  generally  conceded. 
It  has  been  evinced  by  the  increased  frequency  and  power 
of  special  seasons  of  refreshing  under  the  faithful  preach- 
ing of  the  Gospel.  It  has  appeared  in  the  indications  of 


*27 


a deeper  sense  of  obligation  among  Christians  of  all 
classes,  to  live  and  labor  for  the  glory  of  Christ  and  the 
coming  of  his  kingdom.  It  has  been  manifested  in  the 
encouragement  and  faith,  the  primitive  zeal  and  self- 
devotion,  which  for  the  last  few  years  have  been  exhi- 
bited by  the  feeble  bands  of  disciples  scattered  here  and 
there  in  Papal  countries,  at  Paris,  at  Geneva,  at  various 
points  beyond  the  Rhine  and  in  the  North  of  Europe, 
where  there  have  been  raised  up  living  and  powerful 
witnesses  for  the  Truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  It  has  revealed 
itself  in  a growing  unity  of  spirit  among  all  who  have 
genuine  faith  in  Christ.  And  it  can  not  reasonably  be 
doubted,  that  the  great  movements  of  the  Church  for  the 
conversion  of  the  entire  world  to  Christ,  have  been  at 
once  the  fruit  of  the  quickening  breath  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  the  occasion  of  the  bestowment  of  his  gifts  in  richer 
measure.  Is  it  not  plain,  my  brethren,  that  great  as  the 
deficiencies  still  are,  there  is  an  increasing  number  who  do 
glory  in  the  Cross,  and  who  can  say  with  Paul,  “For  me 
to  live  is  Christ.”  Is  not  the  divine  life,  in  its  deeper  and 
more  spiritual  experiences,  coming  to  be  more  extensively 
and  practically  understood  ? The  nature  of  prayer,  the 
necessity  of  prayer,  the  power  of  prayer, — are  not  far 
better  views  in  respect  to  this  whole  subject,  at  least 
beginning  to  pervade  the  church  ? And  finally,  are  there 
not  signs  of  a growing  faith  in  the  mission  of  the  Divine 
Spirit,  and  larger  expectations  of  such  displays  of  his 
transforming  grace  as  have  never  yet  been  witnessed  ? 
As  it  is  by  the  Church,  as  the  human  instrumentality, 
that  Christ  will  carry  forward  his  cleansing  work,  in  the 


28 


world  at  large,  such  indications  of  a purifying  process  in 
the  Church  herself,  is  an  omen  whose  significance  can 
not  be  mistaken.  We  know  that  the  powers  of  darkness 
will  then  tremble  and  recede,  when  bearing  the  Word  of 
God,  and  led  on  by  the  Providence  of  God,  the  Church 
shall  be  seen  advancing  in  the  simplicity  of  faith,  in  the 
prevalence  of  prayer,  and  in  the  commanding  beauty  of 
true  holiness. 

We  ask  now  any  candid  person  who  believes  the  Bible, 
to  place  before  him  the  great  facts  to  which  we;  have 
alluded,  in  their  just  relations,  and  then  to  say,  if  there 
are  not  solid  grounds  for  the  belief  that  our  blessed  Lord 
is  at  this  time  entering  on  the  final,  the  consummating 
stage  of  his  work  of  love  in  the  moral  cleansing  of  the 
world.  You  will  admit,  my  brethren,  that  there  are  im- 
pressive indications  of  such  a manifestation  of  the  Son  of 
Man.  You  believe  the  truth  of  prophecy.  You  believe  that 
Messiah’s  holy  and  happy  kingdom  is  certainly  to  come  ; 
and  in  its  coming  to  fill  and  to  transform  the  earth.  Con- 
sider, then,  that  it  passed  its  initiatory  period  many  centu- 
ries ago  ; and  that  the  practical  experiments  connected 
with  it  which  were  necessary,  have  been  tried  and  are 
tending  fast  to  a conclusion  ; and  lastly,  ponder  the  ad- 
mitted facts,  that  Evangelical  Truth,  the  Bible,  in  a word, 
is  God’s  appointed  means  for  the  purification  of  the 
world  ; that  the  agencies  for  its  universal  dissemination 
are  now  ready ; that  the  hearts  of  hundreds  of  thousands 
in  Christendom,  particularly  among  those  who  have  been 
the  victims  of  the  Papacy,  are  deeply  conscious  of  their 


spiritual  wants  and  so  in  a measure  prepared  to  welcome 
it,  that  the  Providence  of  God  is  almost  working  miracles 
among  the  nations  for  its  advancement;  and  lastly  that 
the  Holy  Ghost  is  breathing  on  the  Universal  Church 
and  warming  it  to  vigorous  life  and  action.  In  such  a 
view  of  the  whole  subject,  can  you  doubt,  dare  you  doubt, 
that  the  King  of  Kings  and  the  Lord  of  Lords  is  going 
forth  at  last  in  the  glory  of  his  own  transforming  power, 
to  consume  the  chaff,  and  thoroughly  to  cleanse  his  floor. 

And  what,  my  Christian  brethren, — what  is  the  bearing 
of  this  deeply  interesting  truth  on  our  individual  duty  ? 
Is  it  not  this : that  it  is  the  hand  of  Jesus  Christ  himself, 
that  has  laid  out  before  us  the  work  of  thoroughly  evan- 
gelizing Christendom ; and  that  it  is  his  own  voice  that 
is  calling  all  his  friends  to  urge  it  on  with  unfaltering 
zeal.  Ah  yes,  Christians!  The  cry  that  comes  to  you 
from  many  of  the  strangers  that  are  crowding  to  your 
shores ; that  reaches  you  from  Canada,  from  Mexico, 
and  South  America,  from  wretched  Ireland,  from  France, 
Switzerland  and  Italy,  in  short,  from  every  part  of  Eu- 
rope is  the  call  of  Christ  the  Purifier,  summoning  his 
people  to  cooperate  with  him  in  his  last,  his  transforming 
work  on  earth.  His  fan  is  in  his  hand!  He  is  sepa- 
rating the  precious  from  the  vile.  This  is  a sufficient 
explanation  of  the  terrible  convulsions  that  of  late  have 
rent  the  nations.  It  is  he,  that  has  marshaled  the  forces 
and  set  in  order  the  battle,  partly  of  physical  and  partly 
of  moral  power,  that  now  is  well  begun.  We  can  not 
understand  it.  W e see  the  mustered  hosts  sweeping  now 


30 


this  way  and  now  that.  The  combatants  are  marching 
and  counter  marching,  and  are  often  so  obscured  by  the 
smoke  and  dust  of  the  encounter,  and  so  mingled  in  the 
great  melee,  that  to  our  limited  observation,  all  is  confu- 
sion and  uncertainty.  But  not  so  to  Christ.  To  his  eye 
all  is  clear.  He  is  directing  every  movement.  He 
comprehends  the  whole  affair.  There  is  to  him  no  such 
distinction  as  we  make  between  the  religious  and  the  po- 
litical. All  that  is  going  forward  in  the  struggles  of  the 
civilized  world  is  religious,  in  his  view  ; that  is  to  say, 
all  stands  alike  related  to  the  advancement  of  his  King- 
dom. When  he  shall  say  to  the  conflicting  forces, 
Peace , be  still! — the  tumult  of  the  people  will  die  into  a 
calm  ; and  then  it  will  be  more  clearly  seen  for  what  the 
battle  has  been  fought.  It  will  appear  that  all  this  agita- 
tion and  overturning  is  but  the  breaking  open  of  the  way, 
that  his  servants  may  go  forth  everywhere  and  scatter 
the  good  seed  of  the  kingdom. 

It  is  true,  as  we  are  well  aware,  that  there  are  darker 
views  than  those  which  we  have  taken  of  the  present 
state  of  the  nominally  Christian  world.  We  presume 
there  are  those  who  still  look  forward  only  with  sad  fore- 
boding; who  have  no  eyes  to  see  the  signs  of  promise 
which  are  offered  for  the  encouragement  of  Christian 
faith  and  effort;  and  who  even  despair  of  the  power 
of  Christianity  itself,  as  a spiritual  system,  to  hold  on 
its  way  to  a universal  triumph.  It  will  be  suggested 
that  there  is  yet  great  strength  in  the  Papal  system,  that 
Infidelity  is  still  furiously  rampant,  and  that  there  is 
great  imperfection  in  the  Church.  W e admit  the  facts. 


31 


But  (hen  we  ask,  what  of  them  ! Have  we  affirmed  that 
this  last  contest  between  vital  Truth  and  deadly  Error,  is 
going  to  he  a trifling  skirmish  ? Or  that  we  imagine  it  will 
very  soon  be  over  ? We  entertain  no  such  opinion.  We 
doubt  not  that  the  resistance  will  be  desperate  beyond  all 
precedent ; and  the  more  because  the  event  of  the  struggle 
must  obviously  be  decisive.  But  on  tin*  other  hand,  we 
are  sure  that  the  onset  is  going  to  he  such  as  no  past  age 
has  witnessed.  The  reigning  Potentates  of  Europe  may 
still  retain  their  crowns,  perhaps  it  is  best  they  should  ; 
to  bring  back  the  days  of  Absolutism,  however,  will  be 
utterly  beyond  their  power.  The  unhappy  Pope  may 
yet  wear  his  tiara  for  a while ; by  the  aid  of  others,  we 
presume  he  will.  But  with  what  opiate  can  he  put  to 
sleep  again  the  roused  up  spirit  of  the  Italian  people,  or 
quench  their  burning  irrepressible  desires  for  freedom. 
With  what  form  of  conjuration  will  he  exorcise  the  evil 
spirits  which,  in  the  shape  of  Bibles,  books  and  tracts, 
have  taken  possession  of  the  Patrimony  of  St.  Peter  ? 
Not  even  another  Hildebrand  could  restore  to  the  Roman 
See  its  lost  dominion  over  mind.  And  as  to  Infidelity, 
routed  as  she  has  been  everywhere  in  argument,  repudi- 
ated as  she  is  and  must  be  by  the  moral  instincts  of  the 
soul,  she  can  have  no  new  victories  to  gain  in  a general 
conflict  with  the  Gospel.  She  is  doomed  to  be  consumed 
among  the  chafif.* 


* The  signal  failure  of  Infidelity  to  find  any  tenable  ground  on  which 
to  contend  in  argument  against  Divine  Revelation,  does  not  indeed  prevent 
the  prevalence  of  avast  amount  of  practical  unbelief.  But  the  scepticism 
which  has  so  extensively  pervaded  France  and  other  parts  of  Western 


32 


Yes  ! carry  directly  to  the  heart  of  Christendom  the 
simple,  saving  truths  of  the  New  Testament,  and  nothing 
more  is  needed.  And  this  is  the  work  which  Christ  is  bid- 
ding us  to  do  without  delay.  We  rejoice  in  what  is  doing 
to  send  life  to  the  heathen  nations ; but  we  know  that 
we  are  effectually  helping  on  the  conversion  of  the 
Pagan  world  to  Christ,  while  we  are  laboring  to  take  up 
the  stumbling  blocks  of  nominal  Christianity.  The  hand 
of  God  has  wonderfully  guided  this  Evangelizing  move- 
ment from  the  first,  and  never  so  clearly  as  at  present, 
could  the  wisdom  of  his  purpose  in  its  origin  and  progress 
be  discovered.  The  good  which  has  been  done  already 
is,  we  are  satisfied,  but  small,  in  comparison  with 
what,  by  the  divine  blessing,  it  is  about  to  do,  in  this 
great  juncture  for  which  especially  it  seems  to  have 
been  raised  up.  It  has  already  cheered,  by  its  efficient 
cooperation,  the  faithful  servants  of  God  to  whom  it  has 
borne  the  timely  aid,  along  with  the  sympathy  and 
prayers,  of  American  Christians.  It  has  made  its  influ- 
ence felt  in  various  ways  in  almost  every  part  of  Europe. 
In  doing  this,  it  has  won  the  confidence  of  the  friends 
of  Christ  both  at  home  and  abroad,  and  gained  the  most 
valuable  kinds  of  information  and  experience.  Now 
then,  the  organization  is  all  ready  for  the  larger  and 
more  vigorous  operations  which  the  times  demand,  if 


Europe,  must  yield  and  will  yield  under  the  direct  and  faithful  application 
of  Evangelical  Truth.  As  it  has  its  seat  chiefly  in  the  heart,  and  is  nour- 
ished by  ignorance  and  false  views  of  Christianity,  there  is  nothing  to 
prevent  its  complete  removal  by  the  clear  presentation  of  the  Gospel  in 
its  divine  simplicity. 


33 

those  to  whom  it  looks  for  its  resources,  will  place  at  its 
disposal  the  necessary  means. 

And  shall  we,  fellow  disciples,  fail  to  do  this  ? . Shall 
we  be  wanting  in  our  duty  now?  Shall  we  see  our 
Saviour  going  forth  to  cleanse  the  deep  pollutions  of  the 
world,  and  not  promptly  rally  round  him,  all  ready  to 
do  whatever  he  shall  indicate-  Oh  ! it  our  sovds  have 
ever  felt  the  power  of  dying  love,  if  we  have  wept  and 
been  forgiven  at  the  Cross  of  our  adorable  Redeemer, 
if  we  are  jealous  for  his  honor  and  longing  to  see  the 
world  which  he  has  ransomed,  bowing  in  homage  at  his 
feet : now' — now  is  the  time  to  manifest  our  devotion 
to  his  cause ! 

Never,  certainly,  was  there  so  much  as  now'  to  stir 
the  hearts  of  the  friends  of  truth.  Never  had  they  so 
much  to  rouse  their  courage  and  inspire  their  hopes. 
There  was  an  astonishing  waking  up  of  mind  in  the 
sixteenth  century  ; but  it  wras  as  nothing  to  the  rushing 
activity  which  marks  the  present  day.  The  voice  of  Lu- 
ther was  a glorious  voice ; and  effectually  did  it  scare 
the  dreaming  owls  of  the  spiritual  Babylon,  and  set  them 
in  commotion.  But  believe  it,  my  brethren,  it  is  not 
mere  human  utterances  that  now  are  startling  Christen- 
dom. The  voice  of  the  Reformation  was  but  the  bugle 
blast  that  aroused  the  sleeping  forces.  The  sounds  which  in 
this  our  era  are  coming  up  from  every  side  and  at  which 
the  mighty  tremble,  are  the  deep  thunders  of  God’s  owrn 
artillery ! The  matchless  pen  of  Calvin  told  on  the  mind 
of  Europe  with  wonderful  effect,  and  was  justly  terrible 
to  the  enemies  of  truth.  But  the  agency  which  to  day  is 

5 


34 


bearing  on  the  cause  of  liberty  and  truth  and  holiness  is 
the  putting  forth  of  the  arm  of  Eternal  Strength ! Who 
can  doubt  that  wonderful  transformations  are  speedily 
to  surprise  the  world  ? 

Brethren ! let  us  understand  the  crisis.  Christendom 
waits  for  the  living  word.  Christ  bids  us  give  it  promptly. 
Let  us  do  it.  Faith  in  the  power  of  truth,  faith  in  the 
Holy  Ghost,  faith  in  the  Son  of  God ; and  a holy  earnest- 
ness and  energy  in  duty ; these  are  what  we  want. 
With  these  we  shall  see  the  Saviour’s  Kingdom  rise. 
We  may  not  hope  indeed  to  linger  here,  till  the  joyous 
anthem  that  celebrates  its  final  triumphs  shall  go  up  from 
all  the  earth.  But  we  shall  hear  the  tidings  in  the  world 
of  light.  Then  shall  we  know,  as  now  we  can  not  fully, 
the  meaning  of  that  thrilling  saying  of  the  Prophet, 
“They  that  he  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the 
firmament,  and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteous- 
ness AS  THE  STARS  FOREVER  AND  EVER  ! ” 

May  God  grant  it,  in  the  riches  of  his  mercy,  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  ! Amen. 


